Donald Sutherland honored in France

Donald Sutherland has been honored in France for his achievements in cinema. The Hunger Games actor was awarded the Commander of the Arts medal for his contribution to cinema by former French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand at a ceremony in Paris on Saturday (09.06.12). The 76-year-old actor -- who has over 100 film credits to his name including The Dirty Dozen, Don't Look Now and Cold Mountain - thanked his current wife Francine Racette, who is French-Canadian, for his love of French culture, saying she had introduced him to French "cinema, but also cheese and baguettes." Mr. Mitterrand praised the Canadian actor's "extraordinary" career and diverse film role. The crowd laughed as the politician then struggled to tie the medallion around Donald's neck. Donald - who is the father of 24 actor Kiefer Sutherland - will reprise his role as evil President Snow in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire sequel in 2013. Clint Eastwood, Sir Michael Caine and Marianne Faithfull are amongst the past recipients of the Commander of the Arts medal.